If you suffer from heartburn, you’ll be intimately familiar with the fact that alcohol is a trigger. But, sometimes, you want to be able to have a drink or two with friends, too. Today we’re going to chat about how to prevent heartburn when drinking alcohol. We’ll equip you with tips that aid in preventing heartburn, whether you’re at a bar, at a distillery near you, or staying in with friends. So, let’s jump right in and get you some tools to help you fend off heartburn when drinking alcohol.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to serve as medical advice in place of speaking with a qualified medical professional. For acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD concerns, we highly recommend and encourage that you talk to your doctor.

What Is Heartburn?

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. It is often characterized by a sour or acidic taste in the mouth, and despite its name, it doesn’t actually involve the heart. 

This condition usually arises after consuming certain foods, beverages, or overeating, and can also be triggered by lying down or bending over. Occasional heartburn is normal, but persistent occurrences might indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – something you should talk to your doctor about.

Does Alcohol Cause Heartburn?

You might not be surprised to hear that this is true, especially if you’ve noticed heartburn when drinking for yourself. Drinking alcoholic beverages, particularly in excess, can relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) – a muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus. 

When the LES relaxes, it allows stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, leading to the burning sensation commonly associated with heartburn. Additionally, alcohol can stimulate the production of stomach acid, further increasing the likelihood of heartburn. While not everyone experiences heartburn after consuming alcohol, it’s advisable to be mindful of your alcohol intake, especially if you’re prone to digestive discomfort.

So, Is There Anything I Can Do About It?

Yes and no – which probably is only half of what you’d like to hear. And we’re going to elaborate on that. But first, let’s keep in mind what we’re dealing with. If you’re out for the evening and will be eating, drinking, dancing, and more, think about the following triggers to help you prepare:

1. Overeating can lead to pressure on the LES, making heartburn more likely.
2. Wearing tight clothing can do the same, making heartburn more likely.
3. A lot of bending over and movement can make heartburn more likely.
4. Eating trigger foods can make heartburn more likely.

So, even if you stick to heartburn-friendly cocktails, the aforementioned factors can cause it anyway. If you know you suffer from heartburn, taking preventative measures (medication or antacids) is probably warranted.

Which Alcohol Should I Avoid With Heartburn?

If you’re looking for an “in general” approach to drinking with heartburn, here’s a list of things to avoid in your drinks. These all have high acidity and can either cause or aggravate heartburn for you:

• Wine
• Brandy
• Sherry
• Scotch
• Dark Rum

Which Alcohol Is Best for Heartburn Sufferers?

When it comes to choosing alcohol to mix into your cocktails, lower acidity is always better. As far as acidity is concerned, gin, tequila, grain alcohol, liqueurs, and high alkaline vodka are good choices. Finding ways to mix these into yummy cocktails without using trigger mix-ins is the hard part.

What Heartburn Triggers Could Be in Cocktails? 

Before we give you a list of cocktails you can mix up safely or order with peace of mind at a bar, let’s cover common triggers that could be lurking in your cocktail.

#1: Chocolate

Chocolate is a double offender because it tends to contain theobromine and caffeine – two compounds that can worsen heartburn. For this reason, you’ll want to stay away from things like chocolate martinis, mudslides with chocolate garnishes, chocolate mint juleps, and others.

#2: Citrus

This one is hard to avoid at bars, we know. However, citrus is a huge offender for heartburn sufferers. You can choose cocktails with citrus peel as garnishes or muddled for flavor, though. Try to stay away from cocktails with high citrus ratios, like margaritas, daiquiris, or even a vodka lemonade.

#3: Peppermint

Peppermint is one of those triggers that affect some but not others. If you know that peppermint is a repeat offender for you, you’ll especially want to avoid cocktails like the mojito, the peppermint white russian, the mint julep, and other drinks muddled with mint.

#4: Carbonation

This is another trigger that may or may not impact you. Carbonation’s main offending point is that it builds up pressure in the stomach, causing you to burp. This can make your heartburn much worse if you’re already struggling, but it doesn’t necessarily cause heartburn. That’s an important distinction. If you know that carbonation bothers your heartburn, avoid drinks like the gin and tonic, the mojito, the french 75, and more.

#5: Coffee

You don’t find straight coffee in many popular cocktails, but if you’re in a group that’s trying some niche cocktails, don’t fall into the coffee trap. Not only is combining an upper with a downer bad for your “mojo,” but coffee is also an acidic LES-relaxant that can cause your heartburn to flare up badly. Stay away from cocktails like an irish coffee, the cold brew coffee cocktail, or anything with coffee liqueur.

Top 10 Worst Cocktails for Heartburn Sufferers

Here’s a list of five cocktails to avoid drinking with heartburn at all costs, regardless of what else you’ve done or had to eat while you’ve been out. These cocktails will probably cause heartburn for you every time if you suffer from frequent heartburn or are struggling with GERD.

1. The Mojito
   • Offenders: mint, carbonation, & lime
2. The Bloody Mary
   • Offenders: tomato, spices, citrus
3. The Margarita
   • Offender: high concentration of lime
4. The Mimosa & The Screwdriver
   • Offender: orange
5. The Daiquiri
   • Offender: high concentration of lime
6. The Irish Coffee
   • Offenders: coffee and high fat
7. The Mint Julep
   • Offenders: mint and potentially lime
8. The Vodka Lemonade
   • Offenders: lemon and excessive sugar
9. Dirty Martinis
   • Offenders: acidic olive juice or citrus juice
10. The Chocolate Espresso Martini
    • Offenders: coffee, chocolate, excessive sugar and high fat

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list. Take what you learn in this blog and rule out other drinks as you come across them for yourself.

Seven Delicious Cocktails That Won’t* Cause Heartburn:

Now, let’s get to what you really came here for: some cocktails that you can order at the bar or mix up at home that you can enjoy without turning into a fire-breathing dragon! Here are seven yummy cocktails that you don’t have to feel bad about ordering at the bar when you’re out with friends next time. 

*Keep in mind that overindulging in any of these cocktails could still lead to heartburn, since ethyl alcohol itself is a mild trigger.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #1: The Martini

This cocktail is incredibly versatile because it can take on any flavor, even citrus, without causing heartburn. Since this cocktail is a high ABV, we recommend sipping on some water while you drink it to help cut down on the impact it will have on your stomach.

1. Chill a martini glass in the freezer for about 10 minutes or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.
2. In a mixing glass, add 2 ½ oz gin or vodka and ½ oz dry vermouth.
3. Fill the mixing glass with ice cubes and stir the mixture for about 30 seconds. This chilling process helps to dilute the alcohol slightly and mix the flavors.
4. Remove the ice water from the martini glass, and if using an olive, drop it into the glass.
5. Strain the stirred mixture into the chilled martini glass.
6. If using a lemon twist, express the oils from a lemon peel over the drink by holding the twist over the glass and giving it a gentle twist. Drop the twist into the glass.

The longer you leave citrus twists in this drink, the more flavor is imparted into the alcohol. If you’re looking for a safe drink that has citrus notes, this one takes the cake.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #2: The Gin and Tonic

Tonic is a polarizing ingredient, so you’ll either love it or hate it. But, it’s a fantastic drink for heartburn sufferers (just don’t try this one if carbonation bothers you). Lots of people like to add citrus juice to their gin and tonics, but you could opt for peels instead, just like in the martini.

1. Fill a highball glass with ice and add 2 oz gin.
2. Top with 4 oz tonic water and give a light stir.
3. Garnish with a lemon, lime, or orange twist for a citrus kick. You can also use flavored tonic water if you like.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #3: The Piña Colada

If you like something with a little more “flair,” the Piña Colada is fairly safe, too. If fatty ingredients tend to bother your heartburn, opt for something lighter in your Piña Colada, like reducing the coconut cream or substituting with milk.

1. In a blender, combine 2 oz white rum, 3 oz pineapple juice, 2 oz coconut cream, and 1 cup crushed ice.
2. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Pour the mixture into a chilled glass.
4. Garnish with a pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry on top.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #4: Spiked Fruit Juices

Another good option for heartburn sufferers is a simple spiked juice. Cranberry juice, apple juice, and pear juices are all great options for spiking with gin, vodka, or even white rum. These options give you some of the “social drinking” aspects without compromising later on when you go to sleep. And don’t forget the garnishes to help elevate the experience!

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #5: The Apple Cider Whiskey Cocktail

If you’re looking for a warming cocktail with fall vibes, the apple cider whiskey cocktail is definitely up your alley – and it’s heartburn safe.

1. Rim a glass with coconut sugar.
2. Add ice to the glass, then pour in 1 ½ oz cinnamon whiskey.
3. Top with apple cider, stir, then garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slices.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #6: The Godfather

For a classic, sophisticated vibe, you could certainly choose the godfather. Made with just blended scotch (or bourbon) and amaretto, this is a heartburn-safe cocktail with no compromise on flavor.

1. In a mixing glass with ice, pour 2 oz blended scotch or bourbon and ¼ oz amaretto.
2. Stir to chill, then strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.

Heartburn-Friendly Cocktail #7: The Kentucky Horsefather

This twist on the moscow mule doesn’t have any heartburn triggers, and might even help quell an upset stomach (if you’ve already over-indulged).

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add 4 oz ginger beer, 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey, and 4 dashes Angostura bitters.
3. Stir to combine, then garnish with a lime twist.

Find Heartburn-Friendly Spirits at Distillery Nearby

Are you on the hunt for new spirits to try? Check out some distilleries near you – you may even be able to chat with the distillers about their heartburn-friendly options and ideas for cocktails! Try visiting a distillery near you – but first, find them in our by-state directory!

From all of us here at Distillery Nearby,

Happy Sipping!